user
Explain why ocean tides occur.
assistant

Ocean tides are caused by the combined effects of the Earth's rotation, gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon, and the shape of the ocean basin. The Moon's gravitational pull creates bulges in the oceans, with high tides occurring when the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth, and low tides occurring when the Moon is at its farthest point. The Earth's rotation also plays a role, as different areas of the ocean are affected by the Moon's gravity at different times.